OmniRide: “OmniRide will hold an Extended Season of Giving Food Drive January 16 – January 19 in an effort to be a good partner in service to the community. In addition to accepting non-perishable donations on the buses, the organization will be accepting non-perishables in-person at several local government locations, and monetary donations online at the organization’s website.”

“The food drive will help to replenish shelves at local food pantries – one on each side of Prince William County. ACTS is on the east end of the county in Dumfries, and in addition to providing food assistance, offers utility assistance, programs to address domestic and sexual abuse, suicide prevention, and more. SERVE is in Manassas and provides food, shelter, utility assistance, services in foster care and adoption, health and dental services, mental health services, and more.”

“Delegates Joshua Cole, D-Stafford, and Candi King, D-Dumfries have introduced two bills related to tolls in Virginia. Cole’s bill, House Bill 135, was introduced on Jan. 1. It would allow disabled veterans with disabled veteran plates to use HOT lanes on Interstate 95 regardless of how many people are riding in their vehicles,” reports Ryan Nadeau at WRIC-TV.

Virginia DMV: “The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) encourages customers to take advantage of convenient time-saving online services especially when full-service customer service centers are closed. DMV offices will be closed on the following days for state holidays and observances this year:”

• January 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• February 19: George Washington Day
• May 27: Memorial Day
• June 19: Juneteenth
• July 4: Independence Day
• September 2: Labor Day
• October 14: Columbus Day and Yorktown Victory Day
• November 5: Election Day
• November 11: Veterans Day (observed)

“During these closures and anytime, you can renew your tags, update your address, renew or replace your driver’s license or ID card, in addition to dozens of other services available at dmv.virginia.gov. Most transactions take minutes to complete, saving you a trip to a DMV location.”

Updated at noon: All lanes of I-95 reopened at 11:45 a.m.

Original post: A jackknifed tractor-trailer is causing a significant back on Interstate 95 at Dumfries.  Traffic is backed up for five miles.

From VDOT: “Dumfries: 95SB at Route 234: All SB lanes closed due to tractor-trailer crash. Right shoulder getting by at times. Responders still arriving. Pls use alternate route.”

Meanwhile, with the implementation of storm weather, VDOT issued a travel advisory for the Fredericksburg area.

VDOT: “Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews will mobilize in emergency response Tuesday morning in the Fredericksburg area, Northern Neck, and Middle Peninsula to respond to potential travel hazards on state-maintained roads from forecasted heavy rain and high winds.

Between 2-3 inches of rain is forecast to fall between Tuesday morning and late Tuesday evening. High winds are also anticipated, with potential wind gusts between 40-45 mph along the I-95 corridor and between 50-55 mph in coastal areas on the eastern end of the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.

High winds may lead to downed trees, utility lines, and other debris, especially in areas where soil is already saturated from recent storms. Travelers may encounter areas of ponding and standing water, with some roads partially or fully blocked by flooding.”

The storm will be with us all day and into the evening. You can see our latest forecast, sponsored by Waters End Brewery.

Interstate 95 Northbound: Exit 133 (Falmouth/Warrenton): Tuesday – Wednesday, 9 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. Single lane closure between mile markers 132-134 for work zone barrier repair. I-95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing construction.

• Exit 133 (Falmouth/Warrenton) to Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway): Monday – Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Single lane closure between mile markers 134-136 for guardrail installation. 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension construction.
• Wednesday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. Single lane closure between mile markers 134-136 for 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension construction.

Interstate 95 Southbound: Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway) to Exit 133 (Falmouth/Warrenton)
Wednesday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. Single lane closure between mile markers 134-136 for 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension construction.

• Exit 133 (Falmouth/Warrenton) Off-Ramp: Monday – Friday, midnight – 3 a.m. Off-ramp closure for overhead sign installation. The off-ramp from Interstate 95 southbound to Route 17 northbound and Route 17 Business will be closed from midnight-3 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 8, weather permitting. Additional overnight closures between midnight-3 a.m. are possible on the mornings of Tuesday, Jan. 9 through Friday, Jan. 12, if required. An alternate route is exit 136 (Centreport Parkway) to Centreport Parkway and Route 1 southbound to access Route 17 Business/Route 17 northbound.

Stafford County: Route 17: Sunday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. Alternating single northbound and southbound lane closures on Route 17 at the bridge over Deep Run. Bridge maintenance.

• Route 17 Southbound: Sunday – Friday, 8 p.m. – 7 a.m. Alternating lane closures between Sanford Drive and Short Street for paving.
• Short Street: Monday – Friday, midnight – 3 a.m. Short Street will be closed overnight for milling and paving. Detour will direct drivers to continue south on Route 17 Business to Olde Forge Drive, where travelers can access Thomas Lane to return to Short Street.
• Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Alternating lane closures between Route 17 and Thomas Lane for paving.
• Route 606 (Ferry Road): Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. Single lane closure with one-way alternating traffic between Route 3 Business and Town and Country Drive. Work under permit.

Spotsylvania County: I-95 Southbound Exit 126 Off-Ramp and Route 1 Southbound: A second right turn lane is under construction from the I-95 southbound off-ramp at exit 126 onto Route 1 southbound. Route 1 southbound is being widened from the off-ramp to Southpoint Parkway with an additional turn lane. A second right turn lane is being added from Route 1 southbound to Southpoint Parkway. Traffic islands will be installed along Southpoint Parkway as a safety improvement to allow left turns into driveways but restrict through and left-turning traffic exiting from side streets. Additional right turn lane added to Southpoint Parkway to Route 1 southbound. Project completion in Aug. 2025.

• Route 3 and Orange Plank Road: Construction is underway to modify the intersection of Route 3 and Orange Plank Rd. to a new traffic pattern to enhance safety, improve traffic flow, and reduce conflict points. Project completion in spring 2024.
• Route 17 (Mills Drive) Overpass Replacement and Widening: Construction started in Dec. 2020 to replace the existing two-lane interstate overpass on Route 17 with a four-lane bridge. Route 17 is being widened to four lanes until just east of the Hospital Boulevard/Germanna Point Drive intersection. A shared-use path, sidewalk, and pedestrian crossing equipment will be added as part of the project. Project contract completion is Feb. 2024.
• Route 208 (Courthouse Road) and Hood Drive: Hood Drive is reduced to a single lane between Route 1 and Route 208 (Courthouse Road), carrying only northbound traffic. Southbound traffic should follow the posted detour along Courthouse Road and Route 1 southbound. New right and left turn lanes are under construction at an entrance to a future U.S. Veterans Health Administration outpatient clinic. Additional turn lanes will be built on northbound Hood Drive approaching Courthouse Road. A raised median on Hood Drive will separate northbound and southbound traffic between Courthouse Road and McGowan Drive. Additional sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian crossing equipment will be installed at the intersection. Project completion in June 2024.
• Route 606 (Mudd Tavern Road) Widening: Mudd Tavern Road is being widened to four lanes between I-95 and Route 1. A new secondary access route, Route 2092, will be built parallel to Mudd Tavern Road, and will connect with South Roxbury Mill Road and Dan Bell Lane. Route 606 (Mudd Tavern Road/Morris Road) is reduced to a single lane approaching the traffic signal at the Route 1 intersection through spring 2024 to allow space for widening activities. Project completion in May 2025.

—Virginia Department of Transportation

Virignia State Police: “Virginia State Police is investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash in Stafford County. The crash occurred Thursday (Dec. 28), at 2:20 a.m., on the 500 block of Route 3 (Kings Highway).”

“A 2016 Dodge Journey was traveling east on Route 3 when it ran off the left side of the roadway, overcorrected, ran off the right side of the roadway, struck an embankment before it overturned and collided with several trees.”

“The driver of the Dodge, Christopher E. Lash, 28, of King George, Va., was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected during the crash. Lash died at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.”

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents.

“All aboard the DUI Express. A 54-year-old Stafford man riding on the train tracks rides directly to Rappahannock Regional Jail.”

“On December 28th at approximately 7:26 p.m. Deputy W.E. Trainor responded to the Arkendale Road Railroad Crossing for a report of a vehicle stuck on the tracks. When Deputy Trainor arrived, he observed just that, a Dodge where a CSX rail car should be. The driver advised he made a wrong turn and got stuck. When Deputy Trainor inquired why the driver did not get out of the vehicle due to the obviously dangerous situation, the driver advised he was a “fixer” and wanted to figure it out himself. He would not be able to engineer a way to fix this situation.”

“Trains had to be shut down while the vehicle was removed. While conversing with the driver, Deputy Trainor noticed several signs of intoxication. The driver also admitted to consuming “some vodka” prior to driving. After conducting field sobriety tests, the driver was issued a one-way ticket to jail. He was charged with driving under the influence second offense within five years with a blood alcohol content greater than .2. He was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on a $1,500 secured bond.”

“With New Year’s Eve right around the corner, make sure you start the new year off right by driving sober. Drive sober or get pulled over.”

“IHOP, 320 Worth Avenue, 12/28, 4:15 p.m. Deputy R.J. Reed responded to a disturbance. The caller advised a male was picking a fight with the wall of the business. When Deputy Reed arrived, he located the suspect laying on the ground. The suspect thought he was in Woodbridge, and had strong signs of intoxication. He was charged with public intoxication and held at Rappahannock Regional Jail until sober.”

The Stafford sheriff’s office reports that a truck carrying Red Bull crashed while on Poplar Road, near the Stafford/Fauquier County line.

“They say Red Bull gives you wings…and you will need them to get by this single vehicle, no injury crash in the 2800 block of Poplar Road. The roadway is closed in both directions at the Fauquier County line. Please use an alternate route,” the sheriff’s office posted to Facebook.

“The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is facing a looming budget shortfall, and Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner and Maryland Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen are hoping to ease operational costs related to national security and counterterrorism efforts, reports Sarah Roderick-Fitch at The Center Square. “The four congressmen penned a letter to President Joe Biden requesting his administration include at least $30 million in the FY25 budget to offset expenses stemming from supporting counterterrorism and national security concerns.”